- Industry: Aviation
- Number of terms: 16387
- Number of blossaries: 0
- Company Profile:
Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. (ASA) develops and markets aviation supplies, software, and books for pilots, flight instructors, flight engineers, airline professionals, air traffic controllers, flight attendants, aviation technicians and enthusiasts. Established in 1947, ASA also provides ...
A method of determining the aerodynamic characteristics of an aircraft design. An accurate scale model of the aircraft is made and mounted in the wind tunnel on a series of balances, or scales.
Wind of an accurately controlled speed is blown across the model, and the balances measure the amount of lift and drag produced by the model at different wind speeds and angles of attack.
Industry:Aviation
A method of determining the exact frequency of an alternating current. Vibrations caused by a variable-frequency alternating current are mixed with vibrations caused by the alternating current whose frequency is to be found. When the two vibrations mix, a third vibration is formed whose frequency is the difference between the frequencies of the first two vibrations.
The variable frequency is changed until the third vibration disappears. At this point, the two frequencies are exactly the same. The beat has been reduced to zero.
Industry:Aviation
A method of determining the location of an aircraft by radio bearings. Lines are drawn from two or more VOR stations along the radials on which the aircraft is located. The location on the chart where these lines cross is the location of the aircraft.
Industry:Aviation
A method of digital data storage in which individual bits (0s and 1s) are stored in the form of extremely small localized magnetic fields in a thin film of magnetic crystalline material.
Bits of stored data can be moved about by the use of an external magnetic field.
Industry:Aviation
A method of distilling a liquid by boiling it in a vacuum. The material being distilled is placed in a container, and as much air as possible is pumped from it. Because of the low pressure, the liquid boils at a lower temperature which prevents the material being damaged by heat.
Industry:Aviation
A method of electric arc welding in which the electrode in the torch is a fine, nonconsumable tungsten wire. The arc is enveloped in a flow of an inert gas such as argon or helium. GTAW was formerly called heli-arc welding.
Industry:Aviation
A method of electric arc welding, used to attach studs to metal plates. A large amount of electrical energy is stored in capacitors and released through the stud. This produces a high current density between the stud and the plate. The high current density ionizes the air and allows an arc to form between the stud and the plate. The arc melts the end of the stud and the area of the surface of the plate where the stud is to be attached. The stud is pressed into the molten metal to complete the weld.
Industry:Aviation
A method of electrically insulating the handles of certain tools, such as pliers, that are used in electrical work. The handles are dipped into a liquid plastic resin. The resin that sticks to the handle hardens and forms a comfortable, attractive, nonconductive grip.
Industry:Aviation
A method of electroplating only a portion of a metal part. The portion not to be plated is masked with a nonconductive material, and only the unmasked area accepts the electroplating.
Industry:Aviation
A method of energy release in which a heavier nucleus is formed by fusing two lighter nuclei. When the lighter nuclei fuse, a large amount of energy is released.
Industry:Aviation
